Featured Artist: Jo-Anna Rooney

I want to give a big welcome to Jo-Anna Rooney today. She is a creative spirit in the kitchen, home, and craft room, and I know you will love getting to know her. If you are a foodie you will like the mouthwatering photos she shared today as well as her easy pumpkin soup recipe. 


 

Hello, I’m so pleased to be here to share a bit about myself and my work!  I met Deb a few years ago at a photography retreat and immediately loved her style and down to earth personality.  So I was really honoured when Deb asked me to participate in her artist feature series!  I never used to think of myself as an artist, or even as a creative person, yet somehow over time I found myself on this wonderful and creative journey of blogging.  And since then I have realized that I am more creative that I even knew, and it’s been a nice realization.

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I started my blog as a hobby, as a way to share tried and true family recipes, and the occasional wreath I made, and somehow over time it has become so much more. I found a passion — A passion for creating and sharing.  And that passion has become a career, and my blog has grown into something I am quite proud of and am so happy to be able to share.

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When readers come to my site I want them to feel the creativity and become inspired in their own lives, in the most simple of ways.  Whether it be through a recipe that they make for their family, or through a craft made to decorate their home…I want my reader family to feel inspired to add some creativity and deliciousness into their homes and lives.

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If someone leaves my online space feeling inspired (and hungry!), that makes me truly happy.

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Deb asked me to share a recipe with you, so today I made this Easy Pumpkin Soup.  I used some of the linens from Made On 23rd in the photos…aren’t they perfect with this soup?

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Easy Pumpkin Soup

Instructions

  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • dash cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • pepper
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup broth chicken or vegetable
  • 1 cup cream — half and half is best!

 Instructions

  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup broth (chicken or vegetable)
  • 1 cup cream (half and half is best!)
  • In a saucepan sauté the onion, garlic and fresh ginger until soft.
  • Stir in the cumin, dash of cinnamon, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
  • Stir in the pumpkin puree and broth and simmer for about 20 minutes or more, over low-medium heat.
  • After this time, stir in the cream and cook for about 5-10 minutes more.
  • Once the soup is done cooking, I like to puree it using a hand blender.  It makes the soup nice and creamy!  Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • If the soup seems too thick, feel free to add more cream.
  • If you want you can make this soup in the slow cooker on low, for about 2 - 3 hours.  I like this option when I'm at home because I don't have to babysit it on the stove.  But if you wish, you can easily just make it on the stove in half the time.

See more of Jo-Anna's work with these links:

Instagram: @aprettylife Facebook: APrettyLifeInTheSuburbs Web: aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com